Our Members
Executive Group Members
Professor Peter Yu
Chairperson
Chairperson
Peter is a Yawuru man from Broome in the Kimberley with extensive experience in Indigenous development and advocacy in the Kimberley, at the state, national and international level.
He has been instrumental in the development of many community-based organisations and initiatives that have had an enduring influence on the Kimberley region. He was Executive Director of the Kimberley Land Council during the 1990s and a member of the national leadership team negotiating the Federal Government’s response to the 1992 Mabo High Court judgement on Native Title. He was inaugural CEO of the Yawuru Corporate Group following their Native Title Determination in 2010.
Peter has held various positions in the not-for-profit sector, as a Director on Water Trust Australia, Chair of the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), Chair of the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) to the Northern Ministerial Council, member of the JANA Sustainability Advisory Council and a member of the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) Statutory Review Independent Expert Panel 2024.
He is currently Vice-President (First Nations) at The Australian National University and Chair of the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance.
Leah Armstrong
Leah Armstrong, a Torres Strait Islander, is a senior professional with 30+ years’ experience driving change across business, not-for-profit, and Indigenous affairs. She has held pivotal roles including co-founder and Chair of First Australians Capital, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, Regional Manager (Aust) International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, Director of Indigenous Business Australia, and Chair of Supply Nation. She was a member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council and chaired the Aboriginal Housing Office NSW.
Leah currently serves on national and international bodies advancing Indigenous economic empowerment, trade, and philanthropy. She lives on Awabakal country in Newcastle, Australia.
Ian Hamm
Ian Hamm is a Yorta Yorta man and a respected advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With a distinguished career spanning government and the community sectors, he has been instrumental in contributing to Closing the Gap and advancing Aboriginal representation in high-level decision-making.
Ian has led strategic reforms in government and numerous organisations and remains deeply committed to advocacy and mentoring. He is, amongst others, the Chair of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Chair of the First Nations Foundation, a Board Director of The Healing Foundation, and former Chair of Connecting Home Ltd, a Victorian Stolen Generations service.
In recognition of his work , Ian was recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business by Swinburne University of Technology.
Karrina Nolan
Karrina Nolan is a descendant of the Yorta Yorta people and a long-time organiser for First Nations self-determination. With over 30 years’ experience as a facilitator, researcher and strategist, she has worked alongside communities across the country to strengthen community power, protect Country and advance energy justice.
Through her Churchill Fellowship, Karrina explored nation-building and community power with First Nations women in Turtle Island (USA and Canada). As an Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity, she examined how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can harness the opportunities presented by clean energy.
Karrina is the Executive Director and founder of Original Power, a not-for-profit established in 2018 to support First Nations peoples to build power and self-determination in the context of climate change. In 2021, she initiated the First Nations Clean Energy Network, led by a strong First Nations Steering Group and supported by a broad membership of communities and organisations.
The Network works in collaboration with industry, unions, investors, and legal and technical experts to ensure First Nations communities can give free, prior and informed consent to, participate in, and benefit from the clean energy transition — including through equity, ownership and economic development opportunities.
Jamie Lowe
Jamie Lowe is a Gundjitmara Djabwurrung man serving as the CEO of the National Native Title Council (NNTC) and inaugural Co-Chair of the Mabo Centre, established to promote Traditional Owner economic and social empowerment through a partnership with the University of Melbourne.
With a dedication to advocating for First Nations peoples’ self-determination, Jamie has played a pivotal role in various significant initiatives. He was instrumental in negotiating the Closing the Gap Agreement, which took effect in July 2020, and currently represents the NNTC as a Joint Council member of the Coalition of the Peaks, advising on economic development and supporting national cooperation on Closing the Gap initiatives.
In 2021, he was appointed Indigenous Specialist Representative for the Australian Heritage Council, advising the Australian Government on heritage matters. Prior to his role at the NNTC, Jamie was the CEO of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, which holds native title rights in southwestern Victoria, including the Great Ocean Road. He is also an inaugural member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, which is negotiating a Treaty with the Victorian Government.
Internationally, Jamie represents the NNTC at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, contributing to discussions on Indigenous rights and advocacy. His work, both nationally and internationally, emphasizes creating economic independence while preserving cultural identity, as he champions a national Treaty and other initiatives for Traditional Owners and communities across Australia.
Jamie remains committed to supporting his community and fostering economic empowerment for First Nations people.
Joe Morrison
Joe Morrison is Dagoman and Mualgal and has over 30 years’ experience working with Indigenous people in northern Australia, nationally and more recently globally.
He has extensive experience in public policy, governance, research, Indigenous development, native title, land rights. land and sea management and economic development.
He is currently the Group CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and prior to this, the CEO of the Northern Land Council and the founding CEO of the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA).
Jocelyn King
Bundjalung by descent, Gadigal by birth and Wollombi by lore. Culture is the foundation for all of Jocelyn’s personal and professional skills.
Jocelyn is a results-driven Executive with over 25 years of progressive experience across the Government, NFP and Indigenous business sectors. An accomplished Executive Officer equipped with natural leadership talents and proven business acumen. Proven talents in building strategic partnerships with stakeholders and driving necessary change.
Jocelyn is experienced at analysing social, community, economic and environmental trends to shape innovation. As the founding Director and CEO of First Australians Capital Jocelyn was responsible for guiding innovation and investment in Indigenous economic development by philanthropic and institutional investors.
Jocelyn’s vision for the future is clear: democratize capital to address racial inequity in Australia’s finance sector and create long-term social and environmental impact within our communities. She is focused on incorporating First Nations governance principles, along with a concept she calls ‘Radical Transparency’ to include community in the way that capital is deployed.
In her spare time Jocelyn is in the process of “un-farming” a degraded dairy/beef backgrounding property into a regenerative bushfood’s demonstration property.
General Members
Advisory Group Members
Download our Charter
Indigenous economic empowerment in Australia and lessons and insights from Canada, Tuesday 27 May 2025.